Method, apparatus, and computer readable storage for implementing a wagering game with baccarat attributes

ABSTRACT

A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to implement a casino wagering game related to Baccarat. Each player&#39;s hand and the dealer&#39; (or banker&#39;s) hand is scored by adding up a point total of the respective cards modulo  10.  The scoring also counts all pairs as a point total of 0. The player&#39;s hand is compared to the dealer&#39;s hand and the higher hand will win, subject to this scoring system. Numerous side bets can also be offered, such as a zero side bet wherein after the player is dealt two cards which total zero, the player is betting that a third dealt card (to form the player&#39;s three card hand) is also zero.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit to provisional application 61/340,115,filed on Mar. 11, 2010, entitled, “Card Wagering Game with BaccaratAttributes” which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for allpurposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present general inventive concept is directed to a method,apparatus, and computer readable storage medium directed to a casinowagering game.

2. Description of the Related Art

The original version of Baccarat is a lesser known game called “Cheminde Fer” which was introduced in France. One player is designated as thebanker and deals two cards to himself and two cards to as the playerhand. The banker and player then both look at their cards and if eitherthe banker or the player has an eight or a nine, this is immediatelyannounced and both hands are revealed. Otherwise, the player can requesta third card which is dealt face up, and then the banker can choose torequest a third card. Then both hands are revealed and the highestscoring hand wins.

The game of Baccarat is a popular and well known casino wagering game.Baccarat is described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,283, which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Players can initiallychoose whether to bet on the player or the banker. Then a two cardplayer hand is dealt and a two card banker hand is dealt face up. Eachhand is scored by adding up the point totals of each card and for totalsover 10, the first digit is dropped. The player hand and the dealer handmay draw additional cards depending on predetermined rules. When bothhands are complete, the highest scored hand wins, thus if the playerhand wins then players who bet on the player win and who bet on thebanker lose, while if the banker hand wins then the players who bet onthe banker win and who bet on the player lose. Regarding the player handand the banker hand bets, ties will push. Since the house must have anadvantage to stay in business, when players bet on the banker the housetakes a commission off winning bets (typically 5%).

U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,064 describes a Baccarat game which is “commissionfree.” This was presumably invented in order to avoid the time consumingprocess of tracking commissions. This is accomplished by having certainhands that would have been winning hand declared “barred hands” which donot pay anything to the player. “No value” cards are also disclosedwhich when dealt to a winning banker hand, the banker would not then winthe hand.

Baccarat is currently undergoing a resurgence, with nearly 20% ofgambling revenue from the Las Vegas strip coming from Baccarat in early2010. However, despite the resurgence, some players find the game to bestale. In addition, some players find the card drawing system instandard Baccarat to be non-intuitive, cumbersome, and thus, difficult.Casino games are evolutionary in nature with the goal of providingplayers with a more exciting and straightforward experience, whileproviding the casino with more wagering action which translates intomore casino profit. Thus, what is needed is a new version of Baccaratthat while having certain elements of Baccarat, will offer players newand exciting opportunities for further wagering activity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide an exciting casinowagering game.

The above aspects can be obtained by (a) providing a physical deck(s) ofcards and a physical gaming table; (b) dealing from the physical deck(s)of cards a player's initial hand and a dealer's initial hand; (c)receiving a choice of action from the player to raise or check, whereinif the player raises then the player places a play wager; (d) dealingfrom the physical deck(s) of cards additional card(s) to the player andadditional card(s) to the dealer to form a final player hand and a finaldealer hand; (e) determining a player score by computing a numericaltotal of all cards in the final player hand modulo 10 counting pairs aszero, and determining a dealer score by computing a numerical total ofall cards in the final dealer hand modulo 10 counting pairs as zero; and(f) resolving the play wager based on a relationship between the playerscore and the dealer score.

These together with other aspects and advantages which will besubsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as thestructure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention,will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the followingdescription of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method to play awagering game, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a method to implement azero side bet to the wagering game, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3A is an exemplary table layout that can be used to implement thewagering game described herein, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3B is close up of an exemplary betting layout used for each playerin FIG. 3A, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method to implement afurther variation of a wagering game, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of implementing awagering game with a high/low decision, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6A is an exemplary table layout that can be used to implementwagering game illustrated in FIG. 5, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6B is an exemplary betting layout used for each player in FIG. 6A,according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a drawing of an output display to output recent game outcomes,according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8A is a block diagram of hardware comprising an electronic gamingmachine to implement the methods described herein; and

FIG. 8B is a block diagram of a group of gaming tables networkedtogether with access to a player database, according to an embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferredembodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to likeelements throughout.

The present inventive concept relates to a method, apparatus, andcomputer readable storage medium to implement a new casino wagering cardgame that is related to, but different than, Baccarat. The game can beplayed with one or more decks of a standard 52 card deck. Unlike typicalBaccarat, each player at the table will receive their own set of cards.The present game does not require a separate commission to be paid byplayers on wins. The game uses a unique scoring mechanism that countspairs as zero, to be described below in more detail. There are severaldifferent embodiments of the invention that use this scoring system, allare also described below in more detail.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a method to play awagering game, according to an embodiment.

The method can begin with operation 100, which receives an ante wagerfrom a player. This can be done as known in the art, wherein the playerplaces chips (which are directly redeemable for cash) in a bettingcircle. Before wagers are accepted, the dealer would typically shufflethe deck (or use an electronic shuffler). A number of different playerscan play the game simultaneously, each player would make their ownrespective wagers and receive their own respective cards. Forsimplicity, “player” as used herein refers to one player but each of theplayers at the table will partake in the same method illustrated in FIG.1 simultaneously. The ante wager is typically a mandatory wager,although in an alternative embodiment it can be optional. In addition tomaking the ante wager, players can also place optional bonus (also knownas side) wagers of their choosing. Initial side wagers that can beplaces are as follows. The side wagers can be resolved at any practicalpoint in the game when it is known (e.g., the cards are revealed) whatthe resolution of the bet will be.

Players can place an optional initial tie bet before any cards aredealt. The tie bet wins 8 to 1 if the player hand and the dealer handhave the same score when the game is completed and all cards are dealt.If the player's hand and the dealer's hand are not identical at the endof the game (not a tie), then this bet will lose. Note that this is adifferent bet than the tie raise wager, which is placed at a later pointin the game after the player has seen some card(s).

Player's can also place a dealer's score bet, which is an optional betplaced before any cards are dealt. Players have three choices. Playerscan bet that the dealer hand score will be 0, and will win 5 to 1 whenthe dealer hand is 0, otherwise the player will lose this bet. Playerscan also bet that the dealer hand score will be 1, 2 or 3, and will win2 to 1 if the dealer's hand score is 1, 2 or 3, otherwise the playerwill lose this bet. Players can also bet that the dealer hand score willbe 7, 8 or 9, and will win 2 to 1 when the dealer's hand score is 7, 8,or 9, otherwise the player will lose this bet.

Another side bet that can be optionally placed at this point is a hardway bet. The player is betting that his or her hand will win with lowscores of 1, 2, 3 or 4. Payouts are 25, 10, 5, and 2 for a winning scoreof 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. If the player does not win or wins witha score higher than 4 then the player's hard way bet will lose.

Other optional side bets that can be offered are, betting on whichplayer amongst all players will tie to the dealer's hand (picking theplayer correctly wins, otherwise it loses); betting on a predicteddealer's score, individually from 0 to 9 (the payouts for each scorecould be different); or betting a predicted net score for all cardsdealt for the particular player (for example 6 cards if 3 cards aredealt each to the player and dealer) combined from the player and thedealer.

From operation 100, the method proceeds to operation 101, which dealscards to each player and to the dealer. In an embodiment, two cards aredealt to each player and two cards are dealt to the dealer (one cardface down one card face up). The two cards dealt to each player wouldtypically be dealt face down, although in an alternate embodiment theycan also be dealt face up.

From operation 101, the method proceeds to operation 102, wherein theplayer takes his or her respective action, to raise or to check. Theplayer will indicate his or her desired action by speaking to the dealeror using hand signals.

If in operation 102, the player decides to raise, then the methodproceeds to operation 103, wherein the player must place a raise wageralongside the player's ante wager. The raise wager can be 1-3 times theplayer's ante wager (or in another embodiment, another range), at theplayer's choice. The player can also place other optional (at theplayer's option) raise wagers as well. The player can place a tie raisewager, which wins if the resulting score when the game is over (inoperation 106) is a tie. A zero raise wager can be placed (if theplayer's point total at this point is zero) which wins if the player'sfinal point (in operation 106 when all cards are dealt) total is zeroand loses if the player's final point total is not zero. The zero raisewager is discussed in more detail in FIG. 2 and the accompanyingdescription. The method then proceeds to operation 104.

If in operation 102, the player decided to check, then the methodproceeds to operation 104 without the player placing an additional raisewager.

In operation 104 (from either operation 102 or 103), additional cardsare now dealt to complete the player's hand and the dealer's hand. Athird card is dealt to each player and a third card is also dealt to thedealer. Or alternatively, the dealer's initial hand (dealt in operation101) could be formed of one face up card and two face down cards,obviating the need to deal a third dealer's card in operation 104.

From operation 104, the method proceeds to operation 105, wherein allcards are now revealed (turned face up). At this point, the winningbonus/side, ante and raise wagers can all be paid, while losingbonus/side, ante and raise wagers can be collected by the dealer. Theante wager pays on the three card combination in the player's hand. Forexample, Table I shows example payouts for the ante wager, although ofcourse other payout schedules can be used as well. When there is nopair, three of a kind (trips), two or 3 face cards in the player's hand,then the player would lose the ante wager.

TABLE I KKK 30 to 1  QQQ, JJJ 15 to 1  3 of a Kind 10 to 1  3 Face Cards5 to 1 KK, QQ, JJ 3 to 1 2 Face Cards 1 to 1 Pair 1 to 1 Anything elselose

If the player's hand totals zero and the player made the zero raisewager, then the player has won the zero raise wager which pays 2:1 (oranother payout), otherwise the zero raise wager would lose. After thehands are scored, other wagers which rely on the dealer's total (such asthe tie raise wager placed in operation 103) can be resolved as well. Ifthe player made the tie wager and the result is a player/dealer tie (allcards are dealt and the player point total equals the dealer pointtotal), then the player has won the tie raise wager (which can pay 6 to1 or another payout) otherwise the player would lose the tie raisewager.

In operation 105, all hands can also be scored (evaluated). The hands(both players and dealer) are scored in the same manner, as follows. Asin standard Baccarat, each card has a value corresponding to its rank(i.e., ace=1, two=2, three=3, four=4, five=5, six=6, seven=7, eight=8,nine=9, ten=0, jack=0, queen=0, king=0). Any point total over 10 woulddrop the first digit (e.g., 12 become 2, 24, becomes 4, etc.) This isalso known as “modulo 10.” Pairs (two cards of equal rank) are scored aszero (0). For example, a three card hand using the following cards (thesuits do not matter): king/queen/7 would be a point total of 7;five/five/nine would be a point total of 9 (the pair of fives count aszero); four/nine/four would be a point total of 9 (since the pair offours count as zero); three/king/nine would be a point total of 2 (sincethe point total of 12 drops the first digit); two/two/two would be apoint total of 2 (since one pair count as zero leaving a two left).Making pairs score 0 greatly simplified the game arithmetic, in fact,removing about 20% of the overall scoring exercise. For example, it ismind-boggling to score 7-7-8 as 2 in Baccarat and scoring 7-7-8 as 8 inthe new invention is simple.

From operation 105, the method proceeds to operation 106, whichdetermines who (the player or dealer) has the hand with the higher pointtotal. If the player has the higher (better hand), then the methodproceeds to operation 107, wherein the player wins. The player wouldtypically win an even money (1:1) payout on the raise wager (if made inoperation 103).

The hard way wager can also be resolved at this point. If the playermade the hard way wager and the player's low score (1 to 4) is higherthan the dealer's score, then the player wins the hard way wager (seepayouts in Table II) otherwise the player loses the hard way wager.

TABLE II Player's total Payout 1 25 2 10 3 5 4 2

If in operation 106 it is determined that the dealer has the higher(better) hand, then the method proceeds to operation 108 wherein thedealer wins. The dealer would take the player's raise wager (if made inoperation 103) from the player. The player would also lose any hard waywager that the player would have placed.

If in operation 106, it is determined that the dealer and the playerboth have an equal point total (a tie) then the method proceeds tooperation 109, wherein the player's raise wager (if any was placed) isconsidered a push, meaning it is neither won or lost.

In an alternative embodiment, when operation 106 determines that a pushhas occurred (when the player has exactly three cards), then (instead ofgoing to operation 109) the method proceeds to operation 110 (theconnection is not pictured). In operation 110, a fourth (“tiebreaker”)card is dealt to the player, upon which the method returns to operation106 which determines who has the higher hand (now considering all fourplayer cards but the dealer still only has three cards). If a furthertie occurs (e.g., the fourth card is a ten), then the method wouldproceed to operation 109 (there would be no fifth card dealt).

A “zero raise bet” (or “zero bet”) can be offered in operation 102 (whenthe player is taking action whether to raise or check). In addition tomaking that decision, the player can also decide whether to place a tiebet.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a method to implement azero raise bet (or zero raise wager) to the wagering game, according toan embodiment. Immediately before operation 104 occurs, operation 200can be performed (in other words, alongside the player's decisionwhether to raise or check, the player can also contemporaneously makethe optional zero side bet).

In operation 200, it is determined whether the player's first two cardstotal 0 using the modulo ten system together with pairs equal zero(e.g., the first two cards are both ten-valued cards, or they are 5,5 or6,4, or 7,3 or 8,2 or 9,1, or the first two cards are a pair, like 2,2,3,3, or 4,4, 6,6, or 7,7, or 8,8, or 9,9). If the player's first twocards do not total zero (0), then the method proceeds to operation 204,wherein the player does not (cannot) make the zero side bet. The methodcan then proceed to operation 104 (from FIG. 1).

If in operation 200, it is determined that the player's first two cardshave a point total of 0, then the method proceeds to operation 201,which offers the player the option to make the zero bet. If the playerdoes not want to make the zero bet, then the method proceeds tooperation 204, wherein the player does not place the zero bet and thenthe method can proceed to operation 104 (from FIG. 1).

If in operation 201, the player wants to make the zero bet, then themethod proceeds to operation 203, wherein the player places the zero bet(or zero raise bet). The amount the player can place on the zero bet isunlimited, although in another embodiment it must be within a multiplierrange of the ante wager (e.g., 1-3 times the ante wager). The method canthen proceed to operation 104, the player's third card is dealt. If theplayer's third card is a ten-valued card (i.e., 10, jack, queen, king),then the player wins the zero bet and is paid 2:1 on the zero bet(placed in operation 203) otherwise (if the third player card is not a10 valued card) the player loses the zero bet.

In operation 100, the player has the option to make a number of optionalbonus side bets, the player can bet any amount on the bonus side bets(up to the house table limits). The bonus side bets can be resolved(paid or taken) in operation 105. A first bonus side bet is a dealer'sscore bet, wherein the player can bet on a prediction of what he or shethinks the dealer's 3-card score will be. The player can choose fromthree choices (each choice has its own respective betting circle): thedealer's 3-card score will be 0 (pays 5:1), the dealer's score will be1-3 (pays 2:1), and the dealer's 3-card score will be 7-9 (pays 2:1).The player is also free to bet on more than one of these choicessimultaneously. If the dealer's score is different from what a playerhas bet, the bet is lost.

Another bonus side bet that can be placed in operation 100 by the playeris a tie side bet. If the player's three-card hand score and thedealer's three-card hand score tie (have the same point total) then thetie bet pays 8:1, otherwise it loses.

A further bonus side bet that can be placed in operation 100 by theplayer is a hard way (win) side bet. The hard way side bet wins if theplayer's hand beats the dealer's hand (in operation 107) and theplayer's point total is from 1-4. The paytable in Table II can be usedto determine how much a winning hard way side bet pays to the player.For example, if the player places a $1 hard way side bet, and the playerends up beating the dealer (operation 107) and the player's point total(of the player's hand) is 2, then the player would win $10 (in additionto keeping his or her original $1). If the player loses the hand(operation 108) or the player wins (operation 107) with a point total of5-9 then the player would lose the hard way side bet.

An example of the game described above will now be presented (thepayouts in Table I are used for this example although of course anypayout table can be used). The example is merely one instance of a hugenumber of possible instances of games that can be generated. Fred is aplayer that bets (operation 100) $1 on the ante wager. Barney is anotherplayer at the same table that bets (operation 100) $2 on the ante wager.Neither player makes any bonus bets. The dealer deals (operation 101)Fred: 3 hearts/6 diamonds. The dealer deals (operation 101) Barney: ninehearts/nine spades. The dealer deals (operation 101) himself: an acediamonds and a face down card.

It is now Fred's turn and he decides (operation 102) to place (operation103) a raise wager and places an additional $3 wager in a raise bettingcircle (Fred can raise from 1-3 times his ante). Barney decides to check(operation 102) but also decides to place (operation 203) a zero bet for$2. The dealer now deals (operation 104) Fred his third card: 4 spadesand deals (operation 104) Barney his third card: Ace clubs. The dealernow also reveals (operation 105) the dealer's downcard and deals(operation 104) a third dealer's card: two hearts/ace hearts.

Now all the hands are scored (operation 105). The dealer has a score of2 (0 for the pair of Aces+the two=2). Fred has a score of 3 (3+6+4=13modulo 10=3). Fred's hand does not qualify as any of the winning handsfor the ante wager in Table I and thus Fred loses his ante wager. SinceFred has a higher score than the dealer, Fred wins even money on theraise (or play) wager or $3. Barney has a score of 1 (0 for the pair +1for the ace). Since Barney has a pair, according to Table I then Barneywins even money on the ante wager so Barney wins $2. Barney did notreceive a zero-valued card for the third card so Barney loses his zerobet. Barney's point total is lower than the dealer's point total butsince Barney did not raise this does not matter. The game is over nowand the dealer can now begin a brand new game.

FIG. 3A is an exemplary table layout that can be used to implement thewagering game described herein, according to an embodiment.

A gaming table 300 can be a standard physical gaming table made of woodwith a felt on top which has the betting circles/squares imprinted ontoit. The table layout illustrated accommodates seven players, although ofcourse any other amount of players can be accommodated (as long as spacepermits).

FIG. 3B is close up of an exemplary betting layout used for each playerin FIG. 3A, according to an embodiment.

Each of the seven betting areas for each player in FIG. 3A looks likethe layout in FIG. 3B. Of course, other arrangements for the bettingcircles can be used as well and what is illustrated is only one possibleexample.

An ante betting area 310 is for the ante wager, a tie betting area 311is for the tie raise wager, a hard way betting area 312 is for the hardway wager, the play betting area 313 is for the play wager, and the zerobetting area 314 is for the zero raise wager. Each player makes theirown respective wagers in their own respective set of betting areas.

In a further embodiment, a wagering game can be offered without a raiseoption for the player.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method to implement afurther variation of a wagering game, according to an embodiment.

The method can begin with operation 400, which receives a mandatory antewager and any side wager(s) the player wishes to place. Any of the side(bonus) wagers described herein can be offered to the player as a sidewager (depending on house preferences) and the player can optionallyplay or decline any such offered side wager.

From operation 400, the method proceeds to operation 401, which dealsthree cards to the player and three cards to the dealer. On otherembodiments, different numbers of cards can be dealt to the player andthe dealer.

From operation 401, the method proceeds to operation 402, which revealsall of the dealer's cards and all of the player's cards and scores thehands. The hands can be scored (evaluated) as described in operation105. All bonus (side) wagers can be also resolved (paid the appropriateamount as a winner or taken by the dealer as a loser) at this time.

From operation 402, the method proceeds to operation 403, whichdetermines whether the dealer or the player has the better (higher)hand.

If in operation 403 it is determined that the dealer has the betterhand, then the method proceeds to operation 404, wherein the dealer winsthe game. The player's main wager loses and is taken by the dealer(house).

If in operation 403, it is determined that the player has the betterhand, then the method proceeds to operation 405, wherein the player winsthe game. The player's main wager is paid as a winning wager (typicallypaid 1:1 although other payouts can be used as well).

If in operation 403 it is determined that the dealer's hand and theplayer's hand tie (i.e., they both have the same numerical point total),then the method proceeds to operation 406, which deals an additionalcard to the player. The method then proceeds to operation 407, whichdetermines who has the better (higher hand), the dealer or the player.The player's hand is re-scored adding in the additional (fourth) carddealt in operation 406 according to the same scoring methodology used inoperation 402 (also described with regard to operation 105). Afterre-scoring the player's hand, if the player now has the higher hand,then the method proceeds to operation 405, wherein the player wins apayout on the main wager (typically 1:1).

If in operation 407 (after re-scoring the player's hand to include thefourth card dealt in operation 406) the dealer has the better (higher)hand, then the method proceeds to operation 404, wherein the dealer winsthe game (the player loses the main wager). If in operation 407, thedealer's hand and the player's hand tie (have the same numerical total),then the method proceeds to operation 404, wherein the dealer wins themain wager (thus in operation 407, the dealer wins on a tie). It isnoted that now the player has four cards while the dealer only hasthree, although this should actually give the house an edge.

As an alternative to dealing the player a fourth card on a tie, otherways to resolve ties can be utilized as well. For example, the playercan lose the main wager (dealer wins) all ties. Or, the house collects acommission (e.g., 5%) on all player wins on the main wager and ties push(neither the player or dealer wins on a tie). Or, the house would win oncertain tie hands, for example the house could win all even ties, oddties, or particular numerical total ties (e.g., 5) or zero ties.

The method illustrated in FIG. 4 can be played with the table layout andbetting layout illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, but with the play bettingarea 313 and the zero betting area 314 omitted because there is no playwager or zero wager in the method of FIG. 4. The method illustrated inFIG. 4 is a simplified embodiment with reduced player decisions (e.g.,no player raise decision).

An example of the method illustrated in FIG. 4 will now be presented.Jane places a $1 main wager bet and does not place any side bets. Thedealer deals Jane a 5-diamonds/6-diamonds/king-clubs. The dealer dealsthe dealer a 3-spades/3-diamonds/9 hearts. Jane's score is 1 and thedealer's score is 9, thus the dealer has the higher score and the dealerwins. Thus Jane loses her $1 main wager bet.

Another example of the method illustrated in FIG. 4 is presented. Aliceplaces a $1 main wager bet and does not place any side bets. The dealerdeals Alice a 2-diamonds/3-diamonds/2-hearts. The dealer deals thedealer an ace-clubs/ace-hearts/3-spades. Both the Alice and the dealerhave a score of 3, which is a tie. The dealer now deals Alice a fourthcard, a 4-clubs. Alice's score is now 7. Since Alice's new score (7) ishigher than the dealer's score (3), Alice wins a $1 payout on her mainwager bet (and thus pockets $2).

The method illustrated in FIG. 1 provides the player an opportunity tomake a “play” wager wherein the player is automatically betting that theplayer's hand will beat the dealer's hand. Thus, the play wager can alsobe considered a “high” wager since the player is betting his or her handis higher than the dealer's. In a further embodiment, the player canchoose whether the player predicts the player will have a higher handthan the dealer (a high wager) or that the player will have a lower handthan the dealer (a low wager). The player wins if his prediction ishigher (i.e. betting on high) and his hand later turns out to be higherthan the dealer's hand; the player loses if his prediction is lower(i.e. betting on low) and his hand later turns out to be higher than thedealer's hand.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of implementing awagering game with a high/low decision, according to an embodiment.

The method can begin with operation 500, wherein the house receives (theplayer makes) a mandatory ante wager and any optional side wagers thatthe player wishes to make. At this time, the cards can optionally beshuffled. All cards on the table (but for those in the deck) should beremoved from the table so a new game can begin. The player can alsoplace an initial tie bet, wherein the player is betting that theplayer's final point total will tie the dealer's final point totalwithout seeing any cards in play. Note that this wager is different thanthe tie raise bet, wherein the player makes that bet after seeing histwo initial cards and other players' cards if the game adopts face upaction in play.

From operation 500, the method proceeds to operation 502, wherein thedealer deals each player's cards and the dealer's cards. In oneembodiment, two cards are dealt to each player and two cards are dealtto the dealer. The dealer's cards are dealt one face up (the dealer's“up-card”) and one face down. Each player's cards are dealt either faceup or face down (while each player is allowed to view their own cards).

From operation 502, the method proceeds to operation 504, wherein theplayer decides on a course of action. After each player views his or herown two cards and the dealer's up-card, the player can decide to bet(play) or fold. If the player decides to fold, then the player indicateshis or her decision to the dealer (i.e. verbally or using a hand signal)and the method proceeds to operation 506, wherein the player loses hisor her ante wager and the game ends (for that particular player).

If in operation 504 the player decides to bet, then the method proceedsto operation 508, wherein the player much place either a high wager or alow wager (but not both). The high wager and the low wager can one timesor two times the player's ante bet (placed in operation 500).

In operation 508, the player can also place optional raise bets (at eachplayer's option). The tie wager is an optional raise bet the player cannow place that can be any amount (subject to the table minimum/maximum).The tie wager is described herein and wins for the player if the resultof the game is a tie, otherwise the tie bet loses for the player. Thezero wager is another optional raise bet that the player can now place,which is also described herein and wins for the player if the eventualthree cards of the player's hand score zero, otherwise the zero betloses for the player.

From operation 508, the method proceeds to operation 510. The dealerthen deals a final card to each player (either face up or face down) anda final card to the dealer (face up or face down).

From operation 510, the method proceeds to operation 512, wherein thedealer can reveal all live cards on the table (each player's cards andthe dealer's cards). Each hand can be scored according to the methoddescribed with regard to operation 105 (that is, adding all the pointvalues for each card in a hand modulo 10 while counting all pairs as 0).

From operation 512, the method proceeds to operation 514, whichdetermines whether there is a tie (the numerical total of the player'shand equals the numerical total of the dealer's hand). The player's handis formed using only all of the player's cards, while the dealer's handis formed using only all of the dealer's cards.

If there is no tie in operation 514, the method proceeds to operation516, which resolves the player's wagers. The player's ante wager isresolved using a paytable, regardless of the dealer's hand. For example,a paytable such as one illustrated in Table III can be used to determinewhat multiple of the ante wager a winning payout would be. Of courseother values for winning hands and payouts can be used as well. Thus, ifthe player's three card hand does not contain any of the hands in TableIII, the player would lose the ante wager. All wagers can be resolved atthis point, including side wagers (both initial side wagers and raiseside wagers).

TABLE III Hand Payout KKK 30 to 1  QQQ, JJJ 12 to 1  Other 3 of a Kind 8to 1 3 Face Cards 4 to 1 2 Face Cards 2 to 1 KK, QQ, JJ 2 to 1 OtherPairs 1 to 1 Anything else lose

If the player placed the tie wager (in operation 508), then since thereis no tie, the player has lost the tie wager.

The player must have also made (in operation 508) either a high bet or alow bet. This wager can be resolved as indicated in Table IV.

TABLE IV Bet Condition Result High player's hand has a higher score thandealer's score bet wins High player's hand has a lower score than thedealer's score bet loses Low player's hand has a higher score thandealer's score bet loses Low player's hand has a lower score thandealer's score bet wins

For example, if the player made the high bet and the player's hand has ahigher score than the dealer's score, then the player has won the highbet (which is typically paid at 1:1). If the player made the high betand the player's hand has a lower score than the dealer's score, thenthe player has lost the high bet (and the high bet would be collected bythe dealer). If the player made the low bet and the player's hand has ahigher score than the dealer's score, then the player would lose the lowbet. If the player made the low bet and the player's hand has a lowerscore than the dealer's score, then the player would win the low bet(which is typically paid at 1:1).

All other unresolved wagers that were placed would be resolved now aswell (i.e. the hard way wager if placed).

If in operation 514 it is determined that there is a tie between theplayer and the dealer, then the method can proceed to operation 518,which deals an additional (fourth) card to the player. The player'sscore is now evaluated based on all four player cards vs. the threedealer cards (using the same scoring methodology used in operation 512).

The method can then proceed to operation 520, which resolves all bets(as in operation 516). If there is another (second) tie, then thisresults in a push and the player's high or low wager (made in operation508) is pushed (neither wins or loses) while all other bets made areresolved appropriately (see operation 516 for a discussion of otherwagers). In another embodiment, in the case of a second tie, the playerloses the high or low wager (made in operation 508).

In yet a further embodiment to resolve ties, instead of dealing theplayer a fourth card as described in operation 518, the player (afterthe initial tie) automatically loses 50% of the high or low wager (whichwas placed in operation 508).

An example of the method illustrated in FIG. 5 will now be presented.

Roger makes (operation 500) a $1 ante wager. The dealer deals (operation502) Roger an ace-clubs/6-hearts, and deals the dealer (himself) a4-diamonds (up-card) and a downcard (not visible to Roger at thispoint). Roger then decides to continue playing (operation 504) and makesa low wager (operation 508) of $2. The dealer then deals (operation 510)Roger a third card of 7-spades and deals himself (the dealer) a thirdcard face down. Roger's point total is now 4. The dealer reveals thedealer's two face down cards to be: 4-hearts and 8-spades. The dealer'spoint total is 8 (since the pair of 4's count as 0). Since Roger's pointtotal of 4 is lower than the dealer's point total of 8, and Roger bet onthe low bet, then Roger wins a $2 payout on the low wager. Since Roger'sthree cards do not comprise any of the winning hands in Table III Rogerloses his $1 ante wager. Thus, Roger has made a $1 net profit on thisgame.

In further embodiments of the method illustrated in FIG. 5 (anddescribed in the accompanying description), different numbers of cardscan be dealt to the players and the dealer. In a two card embodiment(instead of a three card embodiment as described above), in operation502 the dealer can deal only one card to each player (wherein eachplayer can inspect their own card) and one card to the dealer (facedown). The game play is similar to described above, wherein in operation510 the dealer deals a final card to each player and the dealer, and inoperation 512 the two card hands are scored (instead of three cardhands). In this embodiment, the ante wager would be based only upon theplayer's two cards, and a paytable such as that illustrated in Table Vcan be used. All payouts described herein (including those in Table V)are used as merely examples.

TABLE V Hand Payout KK 30 to 1  QQ, JJ 12 to 1  2 face cards 8 to 1Other pairs 4 to 1 K high 2 to 1 Q, J high 2 to 1 Anything else lose

In a further four card embodiment of the method illustrated in FIG. 5,the method remains the same but in operation 502 the dealer deals threeinitial cards to each player (either face up or face down) and threeinitial cards to the dealer (two cards face up and one card face down).After players have made their respective high/low raise bets and/orraise side bet, the dealer deals every player one more card and thedealer one more card. In this operation each player's four card hand isscored using the method described against the dealer's four card hand. Apay table such as that illustrated in Table VI can be used to pay eachplayer's ante wager.

TABLE VI Hand Payout KKKK 30 to 1  QQQQ, JJJJ 12 to 1  Other 4 of a Kind8 to 1 4 Face Cards 4 to 1 KKK, QQQ, JJJ 3 to 1 Other 3 of a kind 2 to 13 Face Cards 2 to 1 KK, QQ, JJ 2 to 1 2 face cards 1 to 1 Other Pairs 1to 1 Anything else lose

FIG. 6A is an exemplary table layout that can be used to implementwagering game illustrated in FIG. 5, according to an embodiment.

A gaming table 600 can be a standard physical gaming table made of woodwith a felt on top which has the betting circles/squares imprinted ontoit. The table layout illustrated accommodates seven players, although ofcourse any other amount of players can be accommodated (as long as spacepermits).

FIG. 6B is an exemplary betting layout used for each player in FIG. 6A,according to an embodiment;

A tie initial betting area 610 can be used to place the initial tiewager, a hard way initial betting area 611 can be used to place the hardway wager, an ante betting area 612 can be used to place the ante wager,a tie raise betting area 613 can be used to place the tie raise bet, ahigh betting area 614 can be used to place the high wager, the lowbetting area 615 can be used to place the low wager and the zero bettingarea 616 can be used to place the zero raise wager.

Of course, the betting layouts illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6 are merelyexamples and other configurations of such betting circles can be used aswell.

FIG. 7 is a drawing of an output display to output recent game outcomes,according to an embodiment.

A scoreboard 700 is an electronic display (made of LEDs, LCD, CRT, orother output technology) that displays the dealer's most recent score'sfor the most recent games. The topmost score (2) is the most recentdealer score, the next score (7) is the second most recent dealer'sscore, etc. Each time a new game is completed, the scores can bescrolled downward and the latest outcome is added at the top.

The scoreboard 700 is electrically connected to a processing unit 704,which drives the scoreboard 700. The processing unit 704 is electricallyconnected to an input device 702 which can be a keypad, keyboard,buttons, etc. The dealer inputs the latest dealer's score into the inputdevice so that the latest dealer's score can be added to the scoreboard700 by the processing unit 704.

All methods described herein can be played on an electronic gamingdevice (EGD) or on a personal computer running the game which is servedfrom an Internet (or online) casino.

FIG. 8A is a block diagram of hardware comprising an electronic gamingmachine to implement the methods described herein.

A processing unit 800 can be a microprocessor and associated structure(e.g., cache, bus, etc.) The processing unit 800 can be connected to aninput device 801 (such as a touch-screen, keyboard, mouse, etc.), anoutput device (such as a touch-screen, speakers, LCD display, etc.), anetwork connection 803 (to connected to a computer communicationsnetwork such as the Internet, LAN, WAN, etc.), a RAM 804, a ROM 805, astorage unit (such as a DVD-drive, CD-ROM, EPROM, Hard drive, etc.). Acomputer readable storage medium 807 (e.g., hard drive, CD, DVD, etc.)can be read by the storage unit 806 and can be used to store any and allassets needed to implement the methods described herein on the hardware,including programs to control the processing unit 800 to execute themethods, and game assets (e.g., video, images, sounds, etc.) Theprocessing unit 800 can also be connected to a bill acceptor/paymentmechanism 808 which can receive cash and credit the cash to the machineso the player can wager with the inserted cash. A player can also useelectronic funds to credit the machine to wager. The payment mechanism808 can also allow the player to cash out whatever credits the playerhas on the machine (either in cash, coins, electronic funds, a cashlessticket, etc.)

FIG. 8B is a block diagram of a group of gaming tables networkedtogether with access to a player database, according to an embodiment.It is common in casinos that the casino would track player play in orderto provide incentives and complimentaries (“comps”) to the players inorder to encourage them to gamble. Players are given loyalty cards whichcontain a magnetically encoded identification number which allows thecasino to track the player's play in a casino database. Dealer's or pitpersonnel observe the players at a table and periodically enter into aterminal (which is connected to the database) characteristics of theplayer's play (e.g., average bet amount).

A gaming table A 811 and a gaming table B 812 are physical gaming tableswith electronic card readers 813 and 814 respectively. The electroniccard readers can read an electronically encoded players code (such aswith a magnetic stripe) and transmit the code to the electronicdatabaase 810 so that the respective player's play can be tracked. Theelectronic databaase 810 (such as an SQL database) which can archiveplay data from players and associate the play with each player'sidentification number. The data in the electronic databaase 810 can beretrieved by casino personnel at a later point in time in order to makedecisions about whether to (and how much) award players complimentaries.The electronic databaase 810 is connected to a network connector or hub815 which allows other computers in the casino (or casino propertygroup) to access the database 810.

All of the methods described herein (except for the electronic versions)can be played with a physical deck of cards and physical chips (directlyredeemable for cash) can be used in order to place and resolve wagers.The physical deck of cards can be one or more standard decks of 52 cardsor other special decks. The games are played on a physical gaming tablewhich is comprised of felt on top (with the layout printed on it),wooden legs, and other known components (e.g., chip rack, etc.) Unlessotherwise stated, all wagers placed herein can be any amount (subject totable minimum and maximum amounts).

Any description of a component or embodiment herein also includeshardware, software, and configurations which already exist in the priorart and may be necessary to the operation of such component(s) orembodiment(s).

Further, the operations described herein can be performed in anysensible order. Any operations not required for proper operation can beoptional. Further, all methods described herein can also be stored on acomputer readable storage to control a computer.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from thedetailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claimsto cover all such features and advantages of the invention that fallwithin the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, sincenumerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilledin the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exactconstruction and operation illustrated and described, and accordinglyall suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, fallingwithin the scope of the invention.

1. A method to implement a wagering game, the method comprising:providing a physical deck(s) of cards and a physical gaming table;dealing from the physical deck(s) of cards a player's initial hand and adealer's initial hand; receiving a choice of action from the player toraise or check, wherein if the player raises then the player places aplay wager; dealing from the physical deck(s) of cards additionalcard(s) to the player and additional card(s) to the dealer to form afinal player hand and a final dealer hand; determining a player score bycomputing a numerical total of all cards in the final player hand modulo10 counting pairs as zero, and determining a dealer score by computing anumerical total of all cards in the final dealer hand modulo 10 countingpairs as zero; and resolving the play wager based on a relationshipbetween the player score and the dealer score.
 2. The method as recitedin claim 1, wherein if the dealer score is higher than the player scorethan the player loses the ante wager and if the player score is higherthan the dealer score then the player wins a payout on the ante wager.3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein before the dealing theinitial hands, receiving an ante wager from the player.
 4. The method asrecited in claim 3, wherein the ante wager is paid based on the finalplayer hand.
 5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein if the playerscore equals the dealer score then dealing an additional card to theplayer and determining a new player score by computing a numerical totalof all cards in the final player hand modulo 10 counting pairs as zero,and resolving the play wager based on a relationship between the newplayer score and the dealer score.
 6. The method as recited in claim 1,further comprising after receiving the choice of action from the player,determining if a point total of the player's initial hand is zero and ifso, then receiving from the player an optional zero raise bet from theplayer, wherein the zero raise bet wins a payout for the player if theplayer score is zero and loses for the player if the player score is notzero.
 7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the point total ofthe player's initial hand is computed using modulo 10 and counting allpairs as zero.
 8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprisingafter receiving the choice of action from the player, receiving anoptional tie raise wager from the player, wherein if the player scoreequals the dealer score than the tie raise wager wins a payout otherwisethe player loses the tie raise wager.
 9. A method to implement awagering game, the method comprising: providing a physical deck(s) ofcards and a physical gaming table; dealing from the physical deck(s) ofcards a player's initial hand and a dealer's initial hand; receiving achoice of action from the player to fold, place a low wager, or place ahigh wager; dealing from the physical deck(s) of cards additionalcard(s) to the player and additional card(s) to the dealer to form afinal player hand and a final dealer hand; determining a player score bycomputing a numerical total of all cards in the final player hand modulo10 counting pairs as zero, and determining a dealer score by computing anumerical total of all cards in the final dealer hand modulo 10 countingpairs as zero; and if the player placed the low wager, paying a payoutto the player on the low wager if the player score is lower than thedealer score and taking the low wager from the player if the playerscore is higher than the dealer score, if the player placed the highwager, paying a payout to the player on the high wager if the playerscore is higher than the dealer score and taking the high wager from theplayer if the player score is lower than the dealer score.
 10. Anelectronic gaming apparatus to implement a wagering game, the apparatuscomprising: an input device; an output device; a processing unitconfigured to operate with the input device and the output device, andexecuting instructions to perform: dealing a player's initial hand and adealer's initial hand; receiving a choice of action from the player toraise or check, wherein if the player raises then the player places aplay wager; dealing from the physical deck(s) of cards additionalcard(s) to the player and additional card(s) to the dealer to form afinal player hand and a final dealer hand; determining a player score bycomputing a numerical total of all cards in the final player hand modulo10 counting pairs as zero, and determining a dealer score by computing anumerical total of all cards in the final dealer hand modulo 10 countingpairs as zero; and resolving the play wager based on a relationshipbetween the player score and the dealer score.
 11. The apparatus asrecited in claim 10, wherein if the dealer score is higher than theplayer score than the player loses the ante wager and if the playerscore is higher than the dealer score then the player wins a payout onthe ante wager.
 12. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein beforethe dealing the initial hands, receiving an ante wager from the player.13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the ante wager is paidbased on the final player hand.
 14. The apparatus as recited in claim10, wherein if the player score equals the dealer score then dealing anadditional card to the player and determining a new player score bycomputing a numerical total of all cards in the final player hand modulo10 counting pairs as zero, and resolving the play wager based on arelationship between the new player score and the dealer score.
 15. Theapparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising after receiving thechoice of action from the player, determining if a point total of theplayer's initial hand is zero and if so, then receiving from the playeran optional zero raise bet from the player, wherein the zero raise betwins a payout for the player if the player score is zero and loses forthe player if the player score is not zero.
 16. The apparatus as recitedin claim 15, wherein the point total of the player's initial hand iscomputed using modulo 10 and counting all pairs as zero.
 17. Theapparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising after receiving thechoice of action from the player, receiving an optional tie raise wagerfrom the player, wherein if the player score equals the dealer scorethan the tie raise wager wins a payout otherwise the player loses thetie raise wager.